by John Sorce
john.sorce@theleaven.org
ST. MARYS — In the coming months, students here will be gearing up to receive the sacrament of confirmation.
But before that, they filled a community service requirement through a wide range of efforts organized by the Immaculate Conception Work Camp (ICWC).
The program, launched in 2019, has been running biannually as an element of each confirmation class’s requirements. This year’s camp ran from July 21 to 26, with 23 students participating.
Each day began for this year’s group by meeting for either Mass inside the church or outdoor prayer at the on-site grotto. They then had breakfast and packed their lunches, which went with the kids to their job sites around the community.
After their work was done, the teens were able to go home for a two-hour break before meeting again for a guest speaker, dinner and an activity before concluding the day with a prayer.
“A lot of the people where we send the kids to work are elderly, and they’re not able to do yard work anymore,” said Betty Aubert, who is one of the program’s volunteers. “The kids learn so much and get to appreciate the older people, and they will appreciate seeing each other at Mass when they may not have known each other before.”
“It’s good for the kids to feel like a part of the community,” she added, “because it can be hard for teenagers to be a part of something sometimes.”
One of the stops this year was the house of Gary Roth. When The Leaven arrived at the worksite, students were taking a break and engaging in a lighthearted game of shuffleboard.
Students initially spent time cleaning up sticks from Roth’s yard after the morning’s storm. They then tended to his garage.
“It hasn’t looked this good in years, so they did a great job there,” Roth said.
Students also spent time dusting and sweeping inside his man cave — which is located inside a barn on the far side of the property — mowed the yard and cleared off the driveway.
“The kids fulfill a need,” explained Roth. “Alice (Bordelon) asked us to make a list of some things that they could come and help us with. So, it’s nice to have them help and get some stuff done.
“It’s great to see them out here working hard. They seem to be having a good time together.”
One of the students working on Roth’s property was Jeffrey Henderson, a rising sophomore at St. Marys High School.
Henderson spent his time there trying to get the power washer to start but ended up having to wash down tiles with a hose.
He also mowed the lawn and cleaned Roth’s driveway and garage.
“It’s been really cool,” he said. “I didn’t know a lot about Gary, but it’s been great to help him out and learn more about him. Then, working with all these other kids that I’ve known has been fun as well.”
Incoming freshman Keira Aubert spent her day entirely on church grounds. She started in the youth room where she helped lay out new ceiling tiles and then helped clean inside the church.
“I like helping and cleaning, and the church has done so much for our youth,” she said. “It’s been nice to help give back to the church and our community.”
After returning from their break, the kids got to listen to Father George Rhodes, associate pastor of Most Pure Heart of Mary in Topeka, who was the first of four speakers for the week.
He talked about how the camp integrates two important aspects of human life: faith and work.
“I think so often we can be led to believe by the world and our fallen human nature that work is to be avoided,” Father Rhodes said. “But God teaches us that work is a very dignified thing. So, [faith and work] can be brought together, especially in a way where we can help young people learn that it unlocks a new potential and a new tool to strive for holiness.”
“It’s beautiful to see the initiative and the fruit that [this camp] bears,” he said. “There’s a sense of community and a great willingness to serve and love, and that’s where human fruitfulness and fulfillment are found.”
Students were also treated to a visit from one of their own later in the week. Riley Stallbaumer, a current graduate student at Fort Hays State University, also took part in the program in 2019 and is a 2022 St. Marys High School graduate.
Stallbaumer shared her experiences with the Northeast Kansas Rural Youth Council, the National Catholic Youth Conference in Indianapolis and the Rural Catholic Youth Conference at Prairie Star Ranch in Williamsburg.
But when she arrived in Hays for her freshman year, she said, she felt her faith getting pushed to the side with all the responsibilities that come with being a college student.
She learned that God is always ready to welcome you back.
“I’ve learned that faith is not just a one-time ‘yes,’” Stallbaumer said. “It’s a daily choice. Some days, I feel super- connected to God. Other days, I feel distracted, overwhelmed or even distant.
“But I’ve learned that even in those moments, God doesn’t walk away. He’s patient. He’s present. He just asks us to keep coming back.”
While the focus is on the kids, the adults who help out can also learn something from the experience.
“This community does so much for our kids, and this is also a good way for them to get to know some of the elders in town,” said Jenna Aubert, who leads the local youth group.
“We [adults] can get caught up in ourselves a lot, and our kids see that,” she continued. “So, it’s important for them to take the time and give back to others.”
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